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PAUL SPRAGG

It is with the deepest regret that we have to inform you of the death of our dear friend and highly valued colleague, Paul Spragg.

All of us here at Big Finish feel utterly devastated by the news.

Paul had worked with us for over five years and had become an essential member of the team. We will remember him for his tireless diligence, his total dedication to his job, his cheery nature, his hilarious sense of humour and his kindness and friendship. Our listeners will perhaps know him best for his BF forum contributions, all the help he gave customers via the enquires@bigfinish address and his many, many podcast appearances.

He had relatively recently become editor of Vortex magazine (a promotion he was given 'live' on a podcast).

His work behind the scenes on contracts, script distribution, proof-reading, cover layout, studio management, CD Extra interviews, the website and so much more made him vital to the company's operations.

Paul's partner, Natalie Hayden, issued a statement on Facebook today.

'To all of you that I didn't manage to text yesterday (I couldn't get round to everyone): there is sad news that Paul died yesterday suddenly. He'd been unwell for a few weeks, and was due to go to the GPs yesterday. But he was too breathless to be able to make it in to the surgery, so they phoned him instead. They arranged for a non-emergency ambulance to come and take him to hospital so he could be monitored. When they arrived, he was talking to them normally, and then had a seizure. He came out of that one, then had another seizure, during which his heart stopped and he stopped breathing. The ambulance crew tried to resuscitate him for two hours at home, and then took him to hospital where they tried for a further half an hour, but couldn't bring him round.'

Our thoughts are with Natalie, who made Paul so happy, and all his family and close friends.

We intend to celebrate and honour Paul's memory. For now, we are in the most terrible shock.